BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. — After an inmate charged with first-degree murder managed to escape the Sullivan County jail in August, the Sheriff’s Office has installed an additional safety measure to ensure the right inmate is released.

Inmates leaving the facility will now be required to scan a fingerprint before being released. It is another step to protect the citizens of Sullivan County, Sheriff Jeff Cassidy said Thursday.

“This system is going to help us prevent releasing an inmate that’s not that certain person,” he said during a news conference. “This is going to be another step to release the right individual.”